Transparent sound dampening projection screen

ABSTRACT

The invention generally provides a transparent projection screen material with sound dampening properties and methods for using a screen to manipulate light and sound. Methods and materials of the invention can improve live sound and sound recordings by inhibiting ambient sound from reaching listeners or microphones and reducing feedback.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61/601,198, filed Feb. 21, 2012, the contents of which areincorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to systems and methods for presentingaudio-visual spectacles using transparent sound dampening projectionscreens.

BACKGROUND

Communication with an audience typically requires the presentation ofsound or images. Public spaces for communication often have pooracoustic qualities. Ambient noise or resonant properties of constructionmaterials and dimensions in, for example, concert halls, open airvenues, small rooms, and retail spaces can make the presentation ofdesirable sound quality difficult. The presentation of visual images istypically done by displaying of signs or video, for example, by puttinga TV monitor in a public space. The control of sound is typically doneby “brute force” methods such as, for example, avoiding feedback in PAsystems by simply turning the volume down.

SUMMARY

The invention provides integrated audio/visual display materialsenabling 3D holographic compositing of live spectacles with displayedimages and videos and sound manipulation properties. Methods andmaterials of the invention offer visual displays with concealed soundsources and highly tunable sound dampening properties. Materials of theinvention can be used to impede the transmission of sound waves from aspeaker to a connected microphone, thereby breaking a feedback loop andpreventing undesirable and painful feedback. Further, due totransparency and functional invisibility, material of the invention canbe provided as screens across sound sensitive areas that do notinterfere with visual perception in those areas. Further, materials ofthe invention operate as projection screens. Thus, material of theinvention can reveal a spectacle disposed behind it while simultaneouslydisplaying an image projected onto it, both with great clarity andvisibility, while also baffling and dampening intrusive or unwantedsound, improving the properties and qualities of sound recording andplayback, for example, by cutting an amount of ambient noise thatreaches a microphone or listener, and breaking a feedback cycle.

In certain aspects, the invention provides an audiovisual display systemthat includes a substantially flat screen with a translucent meshdefining an obverse surface and a reverse surface; a projectorconfigured to project an image onto the obverse surface; and a speakerconfigured to transmit a sound wave towards the reverse surface. Acomputer device is included and operably coupled to the speaker and theprojector. Additionally, the system may include a microphone. The meshof the screen provides sound-dampening benefits. Accordingly, thespeaker can face the reverse side of the screen. The microphone can facethe obverse side, and the screen diminishes amplitude of sound from thespeaker, thus preventing a feedback loop. Also, the mesh material isboth translucent and also useable as a projection screen. This allowsimages to projected onto the screen, while other material is disposedbehind the screen. Installations comprising this arrangement have beenfound to be particularly attention-grabbing and very effectivecommunication tools.

In certain embodiments, the mesh is made up of synthetic fibers. Thefibers may have a cross-sectional geometry that is substantially uniformalong a length, such as a triangular cross-sectional shape. Thesynthetic fibers may have a maximum cross-sectional dimension of about100 microns, e.g., about 20 microns. The synthetic fibers can be spacedaway from one another by a minimum spacing distance that is about 50microns, preferably about 100 microns. In some embodiments, the minimumspacing distance is about 450 microns. The synthetic fibers can bearranged in at least a warp set and a woof set, wherein fibers withineach set are substantially parallel to one another. In some embodiments,some of the synthetic fibers (e.g., the warp) are substantiallyperpendicular to others of the synthetic fibers (e.g., the woof). In apreferred embodiment, at least the obverse surface is gray.

In related aspects, the invention provides a method of presenting anaudiovisual display that includes processing, with a computer comprisinga memory coupled to a processor, a digital file to generate an audiosignal defining a sound and an image signal defining an image and usinga projector to project the image onto an obverse surface of asubstantially flat screen comprising a translucent mesh defining theobverse surface and a reverse surface while also playing, using aspeaker to transmit a sound wave towards the reverse surface, the sound.An object (such as a sign, statue, poster, etc.) may be disposed behindthe screen such that the reverse surface faces the object and the methodcan include using a light fixture to illuminate the object, to make theobject visible to a person looking at the obverse surface.

In some embodiments, at least a part of the digital file is obtainedthrough the use of a microphone while the microphone is disposed so thatthe obverse surface faces the microphone, and the method further caninclude diminishing the sound using the mesh to avoid a feedback loopbetween the microphone and the speaker. In certain embodiments, the meshcomprises synthetic fibers having a substantially triangularcross-section, a maximum cross-sectional dimension of about 100 microns,or both.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows interaction of a sound wave with a screen material of theinvention.

FIG. 2 shows a detail view of screen material of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows interaction of a sound wave with a fiber of screen materialof the invention.

FIG. 4 shows sound and sight tuning on a stage by materials and methodsof the invention.

FIG. 5 shows sound and sight tuning at a trade show booth with methodsand materials of the invention.

FIG. 6 shows sound and sight tuning in a gallery according to theinvention.

FIG. 7 shows sound and sight tuning in a studio.

FIG. 8 shows sound and sight tuning in a vehicle by materials andmethods of the invention.

FIG. 9 shows a backseat monitor and audio-enabled HUD according to theinvention.

FIG. 10 shows a sound/sight manipulating installation in a noisy lobby.

FIG. 11 shows an arrangement of material according to the invention.

FIG. 12 shows an arrangement of material according to the invention.

FIG. 13 shows an arrangement of material according to the invention.

FIG. 14 shows an arrangement of material according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention generally provides a transparent projection screenmaterial with sound dampening properties and methods for using a screento manipulate light and sound. In general, screen material of theinvention includes fabric-like material formed by a network of finestrands. In certain embodiments, the strands are a synthetic material,for example, acrylic fibers. Fibers according to the inventionpreferably have roughly a geometric cross-section, with either a preciseor irregular geometry. In a preferred embodiment, fibers have atriangular cross-section.

Material strands will generally have a diameter between about 5 and 100microns, preferably between about 10 to about 20 microns, averaged alonga length of the fiber. Generally, fibers will be formed into networkscomprising a warp set of parallel fibers and a woof set of parallelfibers such that an angle is formed between the warp set and the woofset. Within a set, the fibers are generally substantially parallel toeach other, and between about 50 and about 5,000 microns apart.Preferably, the parallel fibers are between about 100 and about 1,000microns apart, for example, all approximately about 500 microns apart(e.g., between about 450 and about 550 microns apart). The angle betweensets generally will be above about 40 degrees and in certainembodiments, greater than about 60 degrees. In a preferred embodiment,the fibers are substantially perpendicular to each other. Such a networkof fibers offers a fine mesh to function as a transparent projectionscreen material

A fine mesh screen material can be made by weaving the fibers together,fusing them, adhering them, or synthesizing the material insubstantially grid-like pattern (e.g., polymerizing acrylonitrile into ascreen-like form, or molding material into the form). Generally, thescreen material is neutral grey or uncolored. In some embodiments, thematerial is treated to confer a matt charcoal gray finish.

The screen material can be provided or stored in rolls, for example, asrectangles of material about 50 yards by about 15 yards, or about 1 yardby about 39 yards, or any other convenient measurement.

The screen material can be placed as flats. A flat, generally, is apanel of the screen material. A flat can include a portion of the screenmaterial stretched around a frame. Screen material can be fixed to theframe of a flat by adhesive or sewing or fusing (e.g., back onto itselfor onto a fusible material in the frame). A frame can be closed loop ofmaterial such as metal, plastic, or wood. Screen material can also befixed to a straight “bar” of material and stretched to another bar,parallel to the first one. A flat can also be formed by hanging screenmaterial from a fastening point, for example, from hooks or from anadhesive strip. Generally, a flat will have a two dimensional,substantially flat, substantially planar surface. However, in certainembodiments discussed in greater detail below, a flat can have othersurface morphologies.

A flat comprising screen material of the invention exhibits the usefulproperty of being transparent while operating as a projection screen.That is, an image can be projected onto the screen material and bevisible. Also, a spectacle on one side of the screen is visible to aperson or camera on the far side of the screen. More significantly, thescreen material is substantially invisible to the naked eye when it isnot purposefully made visible (e.g., by projecting an image onto it).

Furthermore, the translucent properties of the screen material allow formultiple layers of projection or objects behind the screens or flats,enhancing depth perception. Projecting onto multiple layers can createvisual depth of great richness. Any number of screens can be positioned(e.g., substantially parallel and spaced apart), each with visualmaterial projected thereon to create three-dimensional visuals havingapparent depth.

Screen material of the invention is both transparent and functional as aprojection screen. An item can be positioned behind the screen andilluminated (i.e., directly, or exposed to any amount of light such asambient light or dim light) and the can be made to appear as if thescreen material were not present. Also, images can be projected onto thematerial. Projecting images is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,328,361;U.S. Pat. No. 7,184,209; U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,519; U.S. Pub.2012/0314284; U.S. Pub. 2012/0154753; and U.S. Pub. 2011/0037952, thecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

Materials of the invention can also be used to present three dimensionalvisual displays. Exemplary 3D displays are discussed in U.S. Pub.2003/0117583, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by referencein their entirety.

The screen material further operates to substantially disrupt thetransmission of sound and exhibits salutary acoustic properties whenused or disposed according to the disclosures of this invention. Withoutbeing bound by any theory or mechanism of action, FIG. 1 illustrates asound wave 11 impinging on a surface of a flat 101 of the screenmaterial. While sound wave 11 is generally illustrated with a transversewave line, this is for convenience of illustration only and theillustrated effect is exhibited on longitudinal waves such as soundwaves as transmitted through the air. Flat 101 can be any dimension, andis shown in FIG. 1 as a straight black line with circles on the ends.These circles are for ease of recognition among the various figuresdiscussed herein, and flat 101 need not have any particular structure atits edges.

As shown in FIG. 1, incoming sound wave 11 impinges on flat 101. Soundwave 11 is unable to progress wholly intact through flat 101. Instead,flat 101 breaks up sound wave 11 and causes its energy to be dissipatedas an incoherent array of minor waves 21. Where sound wave 11 may havebeen clearly audible to a human listener, minor waves 21 generally willnot be.

FIG. 2 is an angled close-up view of screen material of the invention. Arectangle is drawn for scale, encompassing an area of approximately1,000 microns² on the screen material. FIG. 3 shows a strand have atriangular cross-section breaking incoming wave 11 into minor waves 21.

FIG. 4 shows a flat being used in a staged performance in an audiovisual display according to certain embodiments. As shown in FIG. 4,performer 107 is on stage 127. Flat 101 a defines a substantially flatscreen on stage 127 with an obverse surface facing the house and areverse surface facing performer 107. Performer 107 and any objects(e.g., clothing or props) in this vicinity of performer 107 are visiblefrom the house. A second person 119 (who could be an audience member) isshown out in the house (i.e., audience area). Microphone 109 is placedto capture sound from performer 107. Speaker 113 is placed to operate asa monitor for performer 107, while speaker 117 is placed to addresssecond person 119. Light source 131 illuminates performer 107. Projector123 projects an image onto the obverse surface of flat 101 a. Furtheruse of screen in performance is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,325,the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety. Speaker 113 and projector 123 can be operably connect to, andcontrolled by, a computer. Microphone 109 could be connected to thecomputer, either directly or via a sound board or PA system.

When flats 101 a and 101 b are used as shown in FIG. 4, second person119 can see both performer 107 and the image projected by projector 123due to the unique light handling properties of the screen material.Further, flat 101 b cuts the intensity of sound transmitted from speaker113 to microphone 109. While FIG. 4 presents a simplified view, flat 101b can have any useful shape or disposition. Flat 101 b can be a smallcircle of screen material near microphone 109, a large rectangle ofscreen material near speaker 113, or both.

When used as shown in FIG. 4, flat 101 a dampens the sounds from theaudience area (e.g., from second person 119) that reaches performer 107and microphone 109. This aids microphone 109 in capturing a clear soundfrom performer 107, and aid performer 107 in hearing a clear sounds frommonitor speaker 113.

Any place where a microphone may be used to capture one source of sound(a performer) preferentially over another source of sound (audiencenoise), screen material of the invention may be used to dampen unwantedsound and keep it from bleeding back to the microphone. Further, anyarrangement wherein a speaker is playing sound being captured by amicrophone, feedback can be inhibited by placing screen material of theinvention between them.

Furthermore, due to the fact that an image can be projected onto flat101 a by projector 123, monitor 113 or other stage equipment can beconcealed from second person 119.

FIG. 5 shows another method of using one or more of flat 101, here inthe context of a trade show booth area, to provide an audiovisualdisplay system. As shown in FIG. 5, performer 107 (here, a salespersonor company representative) stands among displays. Displays are shownthat include one or more of projector 123 facing an obverse side of flat101 (e.g., projector 123 b faces an obverse side of flat 101 b andprojector 123 c faces flat 101 c) so that the flats are showing mediadesigned for the trade show. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, each ofthe displays has a speaker 113 concealed behind it facing a reverse sideof the flat, with the result that audio can be synced to video on the“screens” provided by flats 101 b and 101 c.

FIG. 5 also shows a camera 128, here pointed at a second person 119 (whois also interrogated with a microphone 109). Thus, this trade show boothcan display “audience reactions” on flat 101 b by using a microphone 109and a camera 128 to capture sound and video of second person 119. Thesound and video can be played through speaker 113 and projector 123, forexample, simultaneously with the participation of second person 109 orlater. Thus, other attendees of a trade show can have their attentiondrawn to the activities in this trade show booth. Further, FIG. 5 showsa flat 101 a along the back of the trade show booth area and three offlat 101 d overlapping each other and disposed forward of the trade showbooth area. These flats can disrupt and deaden ambient sound. Where atrade show is conducted in a noisy convention hall, for example, placingflats 101 around an area can create a local enclave of relative quiet,allowing for more sensitive acoustic operations.

Further, in any embodiment of the invention, a speaker may be integrallymounted with a screen material of the invention. For example, a speakercabinet may form a support for screen material, or screen material canprovide a cover for a speaker. Speakers with screens are discussed inU.S. Pat. No. 5,982,537, the contents of which are hereby incorporatedby reference in their entirety.

FIG. 6 shows an audiovisual display in a museum gallery benefiting froman acoustic treatment provided by the invention. As shown in FIG. 6, anobject (painting 161) is hung on a wall and illuminated by light source151. Wall 145 presents a smooth, hard surface. It is common in museumsfor such a wall to be marble. Hall 141 has a smooth hard floor andconnects to an outer corridor with heavy foot traffic. In an arrangementlike this, human activity in area 141 can be a source of excessive andintrusive noise to a person viewing painting 161. Here, flat 101 bsubstantially directly dampens sound coming from area 141 and flat 101 afurther substantially dampens acoustic reflections off of the smoothhard walls. Painting 161 is disposed proximal to a reverse surface offlat 101 a. Flats 101 a and 101 b are each shown disposed parallel to,and approximately a foot away from, a wall. It is an insight of theinvention that this arrangement provides good sound dampening qualitiesin acoustically significant frequency ranges. This beneficial dampeningaffect can be heightened by adding a second, third, or Nth flat 101parallel to, and spaced away from, the wall and either of flat 101 a orflat 101 b.

Further, methods and materials of the invention offer creativeaudiovisual displays. As shown in the museum gallery in FIG. 6, flat 101a operates as a screen to display an image or video projected byprojector 123. Speaker 113 is configured to transmit sound waves towardsa reverse surface of flat 101 a to play audio. Due to the arrangement oflight source 151, flat 101 a, speaker 113, and projector 123, a personin the gallery would: see painting 161; see images and video projectedby projector 123; hear audio from speaker 113; not see speaker 113; andnot hear ambient noise emanating from area 141.

FIG. 7 shows a TV studio layout using materials and methods of theinvention. As shown in FIG. 7, chair 171 is covered by microphone 109and light source 151, while being surrounded by flats 101 b and 101 c.Couch 177 is also proximal to a microphone and a light source. Flat 101a provides a cyclorama behind couch 177. Cameras 123 are trained on thefurniture. Further, chair 171 is recorded by two of microphone 109—oneseparated from chair 171 by a flat 101, and one not so separated.

Screen material of the invention is particularly useful for dampeningsound in the mid-high to treble ranges. For example, when recordinghuman speech with a microphone, any sound generally describable as ahiss, whistling, or tweeting can be dampened. Here, in the studioarrangement depicted in FIG. 7, a TV producer can use the arrangement toproduce a talk show. A person can sit in chair 171 and talk and berecorded by microphone 109 b. If the person has sibilant esses, aproducer can cut power to microphone 109 b and power on microphone 109d. Then, flat 101 d will dampen the person's speech, particularlycutting out sibilance.

Further as shown in FIG. 7, light sources 151 illuminate people on thefurniture. No light source is projected onto flats 101 c and 101 d.Projector 123 projects images or videos onto the cyclorama provided byflat 101 a. Thus, cameras 128 see people on the furniture and seeanything projected onto flat 101 a, while not picking up flats 101 c and101 d. Flats 101 c and 101 d dampen any sound emanating from the pit oraudience area, thereby improving sound quality recorded on the stage.

FIG. 8 shows materials and methods of the invention employed to allow aback-seat passenger in an automobile to view a video while acousticallyisolating a driver. In particular, due to the light manipulatingqualities of the screen material of the invention, minor 205 offers adriver a view out the back of the vehicle despite the presence of flats101. Projector 123 can project a video onto flat 101 and speaker 201 canplay sound to a back-seat passenger. Flats 101 can dampen any sound thatwould otherwise be transmitted to the front of the vehicle, providingfor a safer driving experience.

FIG. 9 shows materials and methods of the invention employed to create aback-seat monitor (e.g., for babies) and a heads-up display (HUD) for adriver. As shown in FIG. 9, camera 128 is trained on a back seatpassenger, as is microphone 109. Projector 123 projects video(optionally from the back seat camera, optionally from a car's computeror any other source) onto flat 101. Speaker 113 plays sound (optionallyfrom microphone 109). By disposing one or more of flat 101 around adriver or passenger, that person can be acoustically isolated so thatdistraction is minimized. For example, speaker 113 can be directed atthe front seat passenger, and acoustically segregated from the driver.

In any circumstance in which screen material of the invention will beused to display projected material (e.g., a HUD instrument panel),material projected by projector 123 can be digitally processed to beprojected with a distortion (e.g., shear, keystone distortion, or other)that complements a disposition of the screen material with the resultthat, from the perspective of a viewer, projected material appearsundistorted. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a computerincluding a processor and a memory operably coupled to a projector.

Any suitable computer and connected hardware can be used for anyembodiment disclosed herein. Any computer can be used, such as a laptopor desktop PC, a portable device such as a smartphone, or anothercomputing device (such as a tablet). Generally, a computer device willinclude a processor coupled to a memory with one or more input andoutput mechanisms. Additionally, a computer may communicate with aserver via a network. A processor may include any data processing devicesuch as a silicon microchip such as the one sold under the trademarkCORE 17 by Intel (Santa Clara, Calif.). A memory may generally include atangible, non-transitory storage medium, such as a solid-state drive(SSD), flash drive, hard drive, USB drive, or similar. Input and outputmechanisms can include one or more of a keyboard, pointer (e.g., mouse,trackpad), monitor, touchscreen, network device (e.g., Wi-Fi card,network-interface card), data connection (e.g., USB port), speaker,microphone, button, or a combination thereof. A server may itselfinclude one or any number of computer device generally including aprocessor operably coupled to a memory such as, for example, arack-mounted server such as the one sold under the trademark BLADE byHitachi Data Systems (Santa Clara, Calif.) or other computer devices.

Other hardware that can be operably connected to a computer includes oneor more of projector 123, a microphone 109, a speaker 113, a monitor, ora combination thereof.

Any suitable projector can be used. In some embodiments, a projectorwith an output between about 600 ANSI lumen and about 12000 ANSI lumensis used. In some embodiments, the output is within the range from 2000ANSI lumens to 4500 ANSI lumens. In certain embodiments, projector 123is the SP-H03 projector sold under the trademark PICO by Samsung(Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea). Projector 123 can be provided by theRLM-W8 8,000 lumen WUXGA DLP projector sold by Barco, Inc. (Duluth,Ga.). In some embodiments, projector 123 is configured with a lens thatprovides an 0.8:1 throw ratio, meaning that the distance between theprojector and the screen (the throw distance) can be about 0.8× thewidth of source surface.

Microphones suitable for use as microphone 109 include the stage-floormicrophone sold under the name Bartlett TM-125C by Bartlett MicrophonesLLC (Weaverville, N.C.); the wireless transmitter microphone sold underthe name SKM 5200 by Sennheiser Electronic Corporation (Old Lyme,Conn.); or the vocal microphone sold under the name SM58 by ShureIncorporated (Niles, Ill.). Any suitable speaker can be used for speaker113 such as a PA speaker or a home or commercial audio speaker.

FIG. 10 shows use of materials and methods of the invention to optimizean acoustic environment as it relates to the architectural qualities ofa space. FIG. 10 represents a building lobby (e.g., hotel, bank, other)having smooth hard floors and walls. Such a large, wide open lobby withmarble or granite floors and walls can be acoustically resonant creatingexcessive echo of every transient sound. As shown in FIG. 10, aconcierge's desk 189 is staffed by person 107. Fountain 185 operates inthe center of the lobby. Person 107 working for a shift may havedifficulties hearing customers intercom pages due to foot trafficthroughout the lobby and (for example) fountain 185 without the benefitof materials and methods of the invention.

A number of flats 101 a-101 i have been disposed around the lobby,dampening the transmission and resonance of ambient sound, therebyenabling person 107 to hear their regular business. Further, flats 101are not visible unless made so, and thus do not interfere with theoverall appearance of the lobby. As shown in FIG. 10, a corporate logosign 141 is placed on the back wall and illuminated by light 151(suspended above flat 101 b, so that light passes directly from light151 to sign 141 without hitting a surface of flat 101 b). Thus, sign 141is made to be visible to people in the lobby. Also shown in FIG. 10 isprojector 123, preferably mounted in a discrete place such as on theceiling. Flat 101 h operates as a display screen for projector 123.Speaker 113 is concealed behind flat 101 h by virtue of the fact that animage is projected onto the flat. Thus, a person in the lobby can seethe images or videos projected by projector 123, not see speaker 113,hear speaker 113, and hear a very diminished amount of ambient sound.

The invention further provides for the use of screen material indoors oroutdoors (e.g., including in certain architectural situations in whichan indoor/outdoor boundary may not be completely clear). Material of theinvention can be used to provide a business's outdoor sign orinformational display. Use of material outdoors is discussed in U.S.Pat. No. 3,961,839, the content of which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

As discussed above, one insight of the invention is that placing a flat101 spaced away from a smooth hard surface and approximately parallel toit yields good sound dampening qualities. A flat may be spaced away froma wall by any distance, for example between about a fraction of an inchand about three feet or more. Preferably, a flat is between a few inchesand about 18 inches from a wall, for example, about a foot away. Thebeneficial acoustic effect of a flat can be magnified (i.e., more sounddampened) by using more than one flat. FIG. 11 shows the use of two offlat 101 disposed about parallel to each other and spaced away from wall145.

The operative surface of flat 101 need not be smooth, planar, or flat toobtain the beneficial properties disclosed herein. FIG. 12 shows flat101 having a wavy surface and spaced away from wall 145. Further,materials and methods of the invention offer assemblages of flatsoptimized to deaden sound. FIG. 13 shows a series of three small flats101 near wall 145. An arrangement as shown in FIG. 13 can beparticularly beneficial where a source of sound to be dampened ispredominately from a certain direction.

Other shapes may offer advantages. FIG. 14 shows flat 101 having azigzag shape. In some embodiments, flat 101 has an irregularly shapedsurface. As shown herein, flat 101 generally has a taught surface andthat may be preferred where used as a projection screen for goodfidelity reproduction of video. However, sound may be manipulated ordampened using flat 101 with a loose screen, such as by hanging screenmaterial, for example, loosely, or draping screen material over astructure. Further, screen material may be disposed in a non-flat,non-planar, or non-taught structure for video reproductive effects.Video or images may be projected onto curtain-like, loose, or crumpledscreen material for interesting or innovative effects. Sound withscreens is discussed in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,369,943 and U.S.Pub. 2006/0109548, the contents of each of which are hereby incorporatedby reference in their entirety.

Methods of the invention include coordinating the manipulation of audioand video effects including making sound or video more or lessperceivable (hiding and showing). For example, video can be projectedsynced to sound and ambient sounds can be, captured, recorded, ordampened and suppressed. Objects, people, and backgrounds can be hiddenbehind screen material with light projected onto it or revealed byillumination. Screen material can be made effectively invisible by notilluminating it, or it can be used as a projection screen. Further,images projected onto the screen can be made to appear as objects inspace (e.g., by projecting light through a gobo, flag, or cookie, or byprojecting light through a film or from a digital file with “dark”space). Further sound levels for recording or playback can beautomatically detected or set. Ambient amounts of light and sound can bedetected, and methods of the invention can operate based on thedetection of sound or light. For example, in certain embodiments, anadvertising video is projected onto a screen responsive to new sounds(e.g., footfalls) being detected. In some embodiments, a microphonecaptures sound and a computer processor synthesizes sound for playbackthrough a speaker, for example, to complement the captured sound or toconstructively interfere with it. These and all other described andinherent functions of the invention can be coordinated through one ormore computer devices provided by the invention. For example, whereprojectors are referred to, a projector can be an LCD projectorconnected to a computer (e.g., a laptop, desktop, tablet, or kioskcomputer with a unique form factor). Devices for capturing or producinglight and sound can be triggered, operated, or coordinated by any deviceincluding computers or smartphones. For example, a projector can beprovided that can connect to a smart phone or other computer device andproject images or video therefrom. Thus, for example, a concert attendeeor a trade show attendee can send images or videos from their device toa device of a system of the invention, e.g., to have it projected on ascreen or to have audio played on a speaker. These and other operationsand any devices of the invention can be connected and coordinated by anetwork, such as a wired network (e.g., LAN, Ethernet connection, etc.)or a wireless network (e.g., Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G, Bluetooth, etc.). Thus, theinvention provides systems which may include one or more of: a flat,screen material, a projector, a camera, a TV monitor, a computermonitor, a microphone; a speaker, audio cable, video cable, a mixingboard, a computer device, a network, networking hardware, server devicesand software, computer programs, display material or stands, signs,small hardware (brackets, mounting screws, etc.), or any combinationthereof.

As used herein, the word “or” means “and or or”, sometimes seen orreferred to as “and/or”, unless indicated otherwise.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

References and citations to other documents, such as patents, patentapplications, patent publications, journals, books, papers, webcontents, have been made throughout this disclosure. All such documentsare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for allpurposes.

EQUIVALENTS

Various modifications of the invention and many further embodimentsthereof, in addition to those shown and described herein, will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from the full contents of thisdocument, including references to the scientific and patent literaturecited herein. The subject matter herein contains important information,exemplification and guidance that can be adapted to the practice of thisinvention in its various embodiments and equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. An audiovisual display system comprising: asubstantially flat screen comprising a translucent mesh defining anobverse surface and a reverse surface; an object disposed proximal tothe reverse surface and visible through the screen to a person viewingthe obverse surface; a projector configured to project an image onto theobverse surface; a speaker configured to transmit a sound wave towardsthe reverse surface; and a computer device comprising a tangible,non-transitory memory coupled to a processor, the computer deviceoperably coupled to the speaker and the projector.
 2. The system ofclaim 1, further comprising a microphone and further wherein the obversesurface faces the microphone.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the meshcomprises synthetic fibers.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein thesynthetic fibers have a substantially triangular cross-section.
 5. Thesystem of claim 4, wherein the synthetic fibers have a maximumcross-sectional dimension of about 100 microns.
 6. The system of claim5, wherein the synthetic fibers have a maximum cross-sectional dimensionof about 20 microns.
 7. The system of claim 3, wherein parallel ones ofthe synthetic fibers are spaced away from one another by a minimumspacing distance that is about 50 microns.
 8. The system of claim 7,wherein the minimum spacing distance is about 100 microns.
 9. The systemof claim 8, wherein the minimum spacing distance is about 450 microns.10. The system of claim 3, wherein some of the synthetic fibers aresubstantially perpendicular to others of the synthetic fibers.
 11. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the obverse surface comprises a gray color.12. The system of claim 3, wherein the synthetic fibers are acrylic. 13.A method of presenting an audiovisual display, the method comprising:processing, with a computer comprising a memory coupled to a processor,a digital file to generate an audio signal defining a sound and an imagesignal defining an image; projecting, using a projector, the image ontoan obverse surface of a substantially flat screen comprising atranslucent mesh defining the obverse surface and a reverse surface;illuminating an object with a light fixture, wherein the object isdisposed such that the reverse surface faces the object, to make theobject visible to a person looking at the obverse surface; and playing,using a speaker to transmit a sound wave towards the reverse surface,the sound.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein at least a part of thedigital file is obtained through the use of a microphone while themicrophone is disposed so that the obverse surface faces the microphone,the method further comprising diminishing the sound using the mesh toavoid a feedback loop between the microphone and the speaker.
 15. Themethod of claim 13, wherein the mesh comprises synthetic fibers having asubstantially triangular cross-section.
 16. The method of claim 15,wherein the synthetic fibers have a maximum cross-sectional dimension ofabout 100 microns.